By Uche Mbah
The National Industrial Court, NIC, Friday ordered the federal government to increased the monthly salary of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN to N10 million.
The court also ordered the upward review of salary structure of other judiciary workers.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osagie, the court ruled that salaries of judges and justices have been marking time for over a decade. This, he said, is despite the increased workload placed on judicial officers, which the court calls “embarrassing”.
“There is no doubt that from evidence adduced before this court that salaries payable to judges as well as their conditions of service, has been greatly altered to their disadvantage”, Obaseki-Osagie ruled.
“Judicial officers are daily impoverished by the devaluation of the Naira.
“They have suffered financial hardship and embarrassment owing to their poor pay. It is a shame to the country.
“In spite of this, our judges have continued to carry out their statutory duties.
“Justices are themselves victims of a great injustice. What an irony”, She held, arguing that the salary review is a right of judges, and the duty of NIC to right such wrongs. Hence NIC can compel the Federal government through its agencies to effect an upward review of salaries of judicial workers.
Consequent upon this, the court ordered an increase in the salary of the CJN to N10million, while those following in hierarchical order; justices of the Supreme Court and President of the Court of Apeal was increased to N9m.
Court of Appeal Justices, Chief Judges, President of the Industrial Court, Grand Khadis and President of Customary Courts will now earn N8 million, while other Judges are to receive N7 million each.
The court therefore, directed the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN be served the judgment.
The cost of N1.5 million was awarded against RMAFC, the AGF and the National Assembly, who were joined as Defendants.
The judgement was as a result of a suit filed by by Sebastian Hon, SAN.
Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that the federal government will challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
